1. 'Calls for the release of Alan Henning that have spoken of the ‘un-Islamic’ or ‘so-called Muslim’ nature of his captors are unhelpful and will harm the prospects of him ever being released. It also has to be asked whether appeals purely in the English language - and which do not offer any Arabic translation - can be seen as appeals at all.'

2. CAGE continues to call for the release of Alan Henning: “Alan Henning is a humanitarian aid worker and because he is not involved in any hostility to Islam or Muslims, should be released immediately. We believe there are no grounds for holding Mr Henning prisoner or executing him.'

3. The British government must take responsibility for its actions and not abandon its citizens: 'As eluded to in a video released today featuring another captive, journalist John Cantlie, the British government’s policy of not negotiating with captors means it has effectively abandoned its own citizens. '

4. The sudden video appearances of Alan Henning and John Cantlie in orange jumpsuits are a result of grievances about the West's foreign policy, both past and present: 'We call on the British government to show restraint and carefully consider its foreign policy positions so that long-standing underlying grievances about Western foreign policy do not boil over into further conflict, both at home and abroad.'

5. Dialogue and reconciliation are the only ways to avoid further bloodshed: 'The fact that other European countries have successfully negotiated with IS for the release of captives tells us that the group is open to negotiation. It’s now time for the British and Americans to also step-up to the negotiating table.